Antirrhinum plant named ‘Sulte Whit’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Antirrhinum  plant named ‘Sulte Whit’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, decumbent and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and numerous flowers that are white in color.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Antirrhinum×hybrida cultivar Sulte Whit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant, commercially known as a trailing Snapdragon, botanically known as Antirrhinum hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Sulte Whit.

The new Antirrhinum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering Antirrhinums with trailing and mounded plant habit and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Antirrhinum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2000 of a proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybrida identified as code number 116C, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybrida identified as code number 6, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Antirrhinum was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in May, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings since May, 2001, in Gilroy, Calif. has shown that the unique features of this new Antirrhinum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Sulte Whit have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sulte Whit’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sulte Whit’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Outwardly spreading, decumbent and mounded plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Numerous flowers that are white in color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Antirrhinum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Antirrhinum were more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Antirrhinum had shorter internodes than plants of the female parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Antirrhinum and the female parent selection differed in flower color as plants of the female parent selection had pink-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Antirrhinum differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Antirrhinum were not as decumbent as plants of the male parent selection.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Antirrhinum were darker green in color than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Antirrhinum and the male parent selection differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection had light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Antirrhinumcan be compared to plants of the cultivar Luminaire White, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Antirrhinum differed from plants of the cultivar Luminaire White in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Antirrhinum were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Luminaire White.

2. Plants of the new Antirrhinum had longer internodes than plants of the cultivar Luminaire White.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Antirrhinum were lighter green in color than leaves of plants of the cultivar Luminaire White.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Antirrhinum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sulte Whit’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Sulte Whit’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Sulte Whit have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the summer with day temperatures ranging from 24 to 29° C., night temperatures ranging from 13 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about 12 weeks from planting rooted cuttings. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Antirrhinum hybrida cultivar Sulte Whit.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybrida identified as code number 116C, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Antirrhinum hybrida identified as code number 6, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 12 to 16 days at 21 to 23° C.

Time to develop roots, summer and winter.—About 25 to 30 days at 21 to 23° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual flowering plant; initially upright, then low trailing and outwardly spreading; decumbent; uniformly mounded plant form. Freely branching habit; about eight basal branches per plant. Pinching enhances development of lateral branches.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio containers and landscape applications.

Plant height.—About 14 cm.

Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 43 cm.

Vigor.—Moderately vigorous; moderate growth rate.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite before flowering; alternate after flowers develop; simple. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 147C. Venation, lower surface: 147B. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About 1.5 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single bi-labiate flowers arranged on terminal racemes; flowers opposite. Freely flowering habit, usually about ten open flowers and about three flower buds per raceme. Flowers face outwardly. Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, spring until autumn; flowering continuous during this period. Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting rooted cuttings.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant

Flower length.—About 2.8 cm.

Flower width.—About 2.3 cm.

Flower depth.—About 3.8 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 157A.

Corolla.—Shape/arrangement: Broadly tubular; five modified petals; upper two and lower three petals fused. Petal lobe apices: Rounded. Petal lobe margin: Entire. Length, upper petal lobes: About 2.2 cm. Length, lower petal lobes: About 9 mm. Width, upper petal lobes: About 1.2 cm. Width, lower lateral petals lobes: About 1 cm. Width, lower central petal lobe: About 7 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces of petal lobes: Pubescent; velvety. Texture, throat: Pubescent. Color: When opening, all petal lobes, upper surface: 155C. When opening, all petal lobes, lower surface: 155D. Fully opened, upper petal lobes, upper surface: 155C. Fully opened, lower petal lobes, upper surface: 155C; at the throat, 4A to 4B. Fully opened, all petal lobes and tube, lower surface: 155D.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower; fused at base. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color, upper surface: 146A. Color, lower surface: 146B.

Pedicels.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Angle: About 30 to 40° from the stem. Color: 146A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: Four per flower. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval, bi-lobed. Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 1.9 cm. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: 155A. Stigma color: 145D. Ovary color: 145D.

Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Antirrhinum have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Antirrhinum. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant named ‘Sulte Whit’, as illustrated and described. 